New Day New Way

A ceremony was held for the inauguration and swearing-in of newly re-elected Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis and members of the city council. The festivities took place at the W.L. "Jack" Howard Theater on Monday, July 1, 2024. Ellis was sworn in as mayor after easily winning a second term, an outcome many might call an upset defying political wisdom. Although Ellis is beginning his second term, he will have a different city council body to navigate his agenda through. Corday Marshall, Sr. and Kema Dawson, who represented Districts 4 and 5, are no longer on the council. They will be replaced by Bishop Rodney McFarland and Verbon Muhammad, Sr., who will represent Districts 4 and 5, respectively. Returning to the council and sworn in were Doug Harvey of District 1, Gretchen Ezernack of District 2, and Juanita Woods of District 3. McFarland and Muhammad attended several council meetings before the current term ended on June 25, 2024, asking the council to delay several controversial items on the agenda, citing no need to "rush" any of them. As incoming council representatives of Districts 4 and 5, they felt that the voices of their constituents were being ignored because they did not yet have the opportunity to represent them. By electing new leaders, constituents indicated that a change was needed. McFarland and Muhammad expressed at the council meetings that the voices of Districts 4 and 5 will now be heard.

While Ellis laid out his vision for the city of Monroe as "Oneroe" during his first term, four years later, for many, the landscape still looks like a "Tale of Two Cities"-same book, different chapters, same ending. Many hope that this time things may change.